Lights Up Productions Inc.

Feel free to visit the official website of Lights Up Productions Inc. and Lights Up Ministries at www.lightsup.org. We are a Christian theater company dedicated to writing and producing quality theater in the style of today's contemporary Broadway musical. To many people, Christian drama or Christian theater does not have a good reputation. We hope to change that and for the last ten years Brent Grosvenor has dedicated his life to writing relevant musicals with unforgettable music and songs and intriguing dialogue that is not corny (if you know what we mean).

His touring included the show "Sunday in Manhattan," which is about the life and legacy of Billy Sunday, the "baseball evangelist." His Christmas production entitled "The Richest Man in the Valley" is available for licensing for churches and theater groups. It is a fun and timeless Christmas show that nearly any size church or drama group can perform. Yes, peopole still actually perform cantatas, but aren't they a little 80's? If you are looking for an Easter production, Brent's newest musical is also ready for licensing. This new epic style show is about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Perform "The Passion of the King" this Easter of 2009. You can view five different short photo galleries at our website, which includes more photos from "The Passion of the King." [Galleries]

We will continue to strive to take Christian theater to another level. The up and coming rock/symphonic style musical "The Lost Son" will be theater unlike anything else. This is currently in production.

Lastly, please understand what we mean by "Christian" theater. This is simply a way of helping people know the nature of our foundational ethics and values. If you are not a Christian we believe that you will respect and appreciate our shows and artistic work as well as the heart in which they are presented. We hope you can see one of our musicals and continue to come back to our site.

Christmas Musicals and getting Exposure

Well, let me tell you, promoting a good Christmas Musical is NOT easy. When I was touring I had hundreds of pastors, music pastors and drama directors ask me this question, "where can we find a good Christmas show or Easter production?" My response was always the same. "It's not easy to find good scripts, let alone, good musicals. So finally, I wrote a Christmas musical that many say is very good and "fresh." We produced it, tested it, made a video for all to see and after several years of promoting the show only about 60 churches have produced and performed it in their town. To some that may seem like a lot, but there are still hundreds and hundreds of churches and Christian drama groups looking for a fun, interesting, clever and relevant Christmas story and I find it very hard to get this one out there.

But, I am working hard to do just that. I'm trying to use the internet to spread the news about this show while working to write and produce others. I am Brent Grosvenor and I truly hope that you would consider performing this show in your town. It is a Christmas Musical nearly any size church can perform and one that will truly impact hearts in the most dramatic way for the sake of Jesus Christ and their eternal destiny. More at www.lightsup.org or www.lightsuptheater.com

Christian Theater in Connecticut

For years I dreamed of building or somehow owning a state-of-the-art theater. The right place I have always felt would be in New England where there is very little Christian Theater. Through a series of circumstances God orchestrated things so that I would find a home in a church with a vision for "out-of-the-box" ministry and a true vision for quality Christian theatrical productions. This place is Crossroads Community Cathedral in East Hartford, Connecticut. This seven million dollar building was finished in January of 2008 and we've already produced two musicals here. The first show was literally days after it opened with the fifth and final year of "The Richest Man in the Valley." Then we moved right into rehearsals for the March opening of my new Easter musical "The Passion of the King."

This facility is beautiful, comfortable and has amazing acoustics. I'll soon give you a full run-down of the exact technical "specs", but for now let me invite you to come visit us here during one of our main worship services on Saturday night or Sunday morning or during one of our live shows. You will not regret it. For more on our shows with pictures and videos visit www.lightsup.org or www.lightsuptheater.com.

The Richest Man in the Valley

Six years ago I wrote the Christmas Musical, "The Richest Man in The Valley." This is a fairly twisted version of the Scrooge story based on the old short fable, "The Richest Man in the Valley," which has nothing to do with Christmas. It sort of goes with yesterdays comments on how you don't really need a "Christmas story." I simply took the old fable and set it at Christmas.

The old man who works for the rich man has a dream. In his dream the richest man in the valley will be dead in three days. In my story that third day is Christmas morning. In the fable, the old man is a good and honorable man. In my story he is a Godly Christian man. There are a few other similarities, but not many. I'll elaborate on my plot tomorrow. It gets far more complicated and interesting. A couple of other important themes are intertwined with the main story.

For more on my Christmas production and Christian theater visit our site at www.lightsup.org or www.lightsuptheater.com. It's hard to find a good Christmas play these days. This is one that any size theater group can produce and perform.

Christmas Story

My comments from yesterday on writing a good script with a Christ centered message is also true for writing a Christmas story. If we are honest, we must say that too many Christian Christmas shows today are starting to look and sound the same - the same message, basic plot line and so on. However, there are many great stories to be told, stories that could happen any time of the year, but when it's told with the backdrop of Christmas it becomes a Christmas story... sort of. At least it becomes "Christmaseeee." Now you have something interesting, something created and relevant. Relevant is the key word here, which I'll talk more and more about later. Well, if you're looking for a really enjoyable and fun and very moving Christmas musical, check out my show, The Richest man in the Valley.

For quality Christian Theater go to www.lightsuptheater.com. You can also buy a demo of The Christmas Show on DVD at our Store.

Christian Stories (basic problem)

In the world of Christian Theater, the real problem begins at the writing stage. The show lives and dies right there. Why is it so hard to find good scripts? One basic reason is that not very many Christians are seeking to develop their skill in this area, but the other reason is one that not too many people are talking about. Most of the time a writer seeks to write a Christian story with the secular added to it. But that is not the reality of the world we live in. We live in a secular world with Christ added to it. The light has penetrated the darkness and the darkness is "larger than life." So, if you want a GOOD story, a REALISTIC story, a BELIEVABLE story, an EFFECTIVE story... then write a secular story and introduce Christ into the story, the way it REALLY HAPPENS. Think on this. I'll write more later on this subject as well as the Christian Musical, Songwriting and so on. Have a wonderful day. And while you're at it, check out www.lightsuptheater.com.

Christian Theater

This is a huge topic and one I want to continue to revisit. Lately I've listed video trailers of my Christmas Musical, The Richest Man in the Valley as well as a trailer for Sunday in Manhattan (The Billy Sunday story) on You Tube and God Tube. These can also be accessed through www.lightsuptheater.com (Home site for Lights Up Ministries and Lights Up Productions). While doing this I've watched quite a number of clips under the subjects of Christian drama or Christian plays. All I can say is, "wow, it seems that our progress in this realm is very slow. We are nowhere close to keeping up with the music industry where professionalism and quality production is at an all time high. Musical theater has been the fastest growing form of entertainment for over a decade. Why is it that Christians are not training, developing, and even mastering the craft of acting, script-writing or any other area of musical theater? I have some theories, but I'll get to that next time.

What is Lights Up?

Feel free to check out the website for Lights Up at www.lightsup.org or www.lightsuptheater.com (same place). You can also go straight to our media site for photo galleries and high resolution videos at www.lightsupmedia.com.

Lights Up is a Christian theater company. I toured for nearly 10 years to about 330 cities and towns with my original musicals. The first show was called From My Rags to His Riches (292 performances) and the second was the only musical about the "baseball evangelist" Billy Sunday (229 performances). This show is called Sunday in Manhattan. You can buy the DVD, which also includes a short documentary about Billy Sunday and about 200 historic photos ranging from WWI to 19th Century baseball to Billy's career. Check it out at www.lightsup.org.

You can also learn about my musical that are available for your church or theater group to perform. Looking for a Christmas show. Here's your chance to present a true "Broadway" style musical that is relevant and effective. I believe it Christian theater at it's finest. This show is called The Richest Man in the Valley. And my newest musical is an Easter production entitled The Passion of the King. Soon you will have a chance to see a couple of video trailers for this show.

Welcome to my blog.

Welcome to my personal blog page. Here is where I keep things pretty "loose" and "open-ended." I suppose that is what blogging is all about. Myself or even some of my friends or assistants from Lights Up Productions will post comments, ideas, encouraging words, etc.